The problem of plastic is a truly global headache - every day 2000 garbage trucks' worth of plastic is dumped into the world's rivers, lakes and oceans.
A large chunk of that - 40 percent - comes from packaging.
That's where a Kiwi company is hoping to make a difference - with a natural solution: fungi.
Mushroom Materials has just secured $8.5 million in funding to set up a pilot plant in Auckland where it'll make fungi-based pellets that can be shaped into customised packaging solutions.
To explain more about how the process works and the company's plans to grow, Paddy is joined by Shaun Seaman - Mushroom Materials' CEO.
Photo: Supplied: Mushroom Materials